Terry Zwigoff Documentaries Now on Criterion

Posted on Aug 10th, 2010 by Spenser Hoyt

Many great things are aligning today! Robert Crumb who has made some of the most influential comics and illustrations on Earth along withFantagraphics Books, who has been one of the best publishers to release his work to the public can stand next to TheCriterion Collection who has just released Terry Zwigoff'sCrumb on DVD and Blu-ray. And here at Scarecrow Video it all comes together with a give-away and coupons!
We're giving away a DVD or Blu-ray of Crumb and a DVD of Louie Bluie. To enter, visit our Facebook page and click LIKE on the official giveaway post. If you're not of the social networking ilk, email us at scarecrow@scarecrow.com with the subject line CRUMB.

If you buy either title here, you'll get a coupon for 20% off your total purchase at Fantagraphics. If you visit Fantagraphics, get a coupon for $2 off Crumb here.

Terry Zwigoff's beautifully sharp and honest documentary of cartoonist Robert Crumb is in many ways one of the best observations on a creative human there is. Zwigoff is able to encompass numerous aspects of one man's life into a seamless two hour time capsule.
The focus is mostly on cartoonist Robert Crumb and his meticulouslycross-hatched black and white illustrations that helped spawn an underground movement in comic books. However, to ground this living legend in the real world, Crumb's life in 1994 is balanced with his past through family. Simply titling it "Crumb" allows the film the space it needs to appreciate Robert's family and how much of an effect they have on his life. His immediate family, wife Aline Kominsky-Crumb, his son Jesse, and daughter Sophie, are used to put into perspective his life at the time before he moves to France in contrast to his mother and two brothers Maxon and Charles are introduced to form a more bitter sweet view of childhood and their artistic influence on Robert.
Through Zwigoff's eye we see warmth and humor in everything surrounding Crumb, even as dark and depressing or lewd and controversial as some of it can be. Never once does it ask the viewer to applaud or feel compassion for the title character(s). It is merely a portrait of an artist who's life is as fascinating as his art.

Here's what Spenser had to say about Louie Bluie in the current issue of City Arts magazine:
Terry Zwigoff (Crumb, Bad Santa, Ghost World) began his film career with this affectionate documentary about aging string blues maestro Howard Armstrong. Zwigoff's film captures Armstrong's joyous music and personality while also providing insight into the lives of African American musicians and the adversities of racism and segregation. While not the household name he deservedly should be, Armstrong is an irresistibly captivating performer who is not only a gifted musician but also a uniquely talented visual artist, charming raconteur and a classic American citizen.